Chidambaram accuses BJP of wooing DMK, NCP-SP for 131st Amendment Bill
Synopsis
P. Chidambaram has put the opposition on notice — alleging the BJP is quietly courting the DMK and NCP-SP to revive a women's reservation bill he says is really about delimitation and gerrymandering. The DMK's swift denial and the BJP's sharp counter have set the stage for a charged Monsoon session showdown.
Key Takeaways
Chidambaram alleged on 15 July that the BJP is wooing the DMK and NCP-SP to revive the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill in the Monsoon session.
The bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session in April 2026 .
Chidambaram argued the bill's 'real purpose' is to enable delimitation and possible gerrymandering, not women's reservation.
DMK spokesperson T.K.S.
Elangovan flatly rejected any support to the BJP on the bill.
BJP leaders Rohan Gupta and Gourav Vallabh dismissed Chidambaram's remarks and questioned his standing to advise other parties.
Congress leader Nana Patole backed Chidambaram, citing a 2017 statement by Anantkumar Hegde as evidence of BJP's constitutional intentions.
Veteran Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday, 15 July alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is actively courting the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharad Pawar faction (NCP-SP) to secure votes for the reintroduction of the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill — a women's reservation measure that was defeated in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session in April 2026. The DMK swiftly rejected any such overture, while the BJP hit back at the former Union Minister.
What Chidambaram Alleged
Posting on X, Chidambaram claimed the BJP intends to bring back the bill during the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament. He argued that the legislation, while ostensibly aimed at reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, had a deeper motive. 'The failed Bill purported to reserve for women one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies but its real purpose was to pave the way for delimitation and, possibly, gerrymandering of constituencies,' he alleged.
Chidambaram also pointed out that the Constitution 106th Amendment Act had already provided for women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, arguing there was 'no need for a new Bill to provide reservation for women.' He further alleged that the BJP was 'reportedly wooing the NCP-SP and the DMK' after 'splitting the Trinamool Congress,' in order to garner the votes needed to pass the revised bill.
Warning to NCP-SP and DMK
The Congress leader urged both parties to hold firm, cautioning that 'any support to a new version of the failed Bill — whose real purpose is delimitation — will be a betrayal of their own conscience that guided them in April 2026.' He expressed confidence that the two parties had been 'clear-headed about the real purpose of the failed Bill' and expected them to maintain that position.
DMK Rejects BJP Overtures
DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan was unequivocal in response: 'DMK will not support the BJP. They may seek our support, but we will not extend it.' The statement effectively closed the door on any alliance of convenience on the bill, at least for now.
BJP Fires Back at Chidambaram
BJP leader Rohan Gupta dismissed the Congress veteran's remarks, saying Chidambaram 'seems to have nothing else to do' and questioned his standing to advise other opposition parties. 'When the Congress had the opportunity to stand by the DMK, it let them down. Now, it is trying to tell them what they should or should not do,' Gupta said. He added that parties within the INDIA bloc had themselves 'realised that they cannot fully rely on the Congress' whenever its own interests were at stake.
BJP leader Gourav Vallabh was equally pointed, questioning whether anyone from the NCP or the DMK had actually reached out to Chidambaram. 'His problem is that the women of India, our mothers and sisters, should not get their rightful due,' Vallabh remarked.
Congress Closes Ranks
Congress leader Nana Patole backed Chidambaram's position and accused the BJP of 'breaking up' the NCP and the Shiv Sena. Invoking a 2017 statement by BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde, Patole argued that the BJP's 'Crossing 400' slogan during the Lok Sabha elections was explicitly tied to an ambition to alter the Constitution. 'They want to change the constitutional framework, and that is why these kinds of attempts are ongoing,' he said. The remarks add a sharper ideological edge to what has so far been a numbers game ahead of the Monsoon session.
Point of View
The Congress is attempting to hold the opposition line — and to remind smaller parties of their April 2026 stand before any backroom negotiations can solidify. The BJP's counter, however, exposes a real vulnerability: the Congress's own credibility within the INDIA bloc is contested, and lecturing allies it has previously let down carries diminishing returns. The deeper question — whether the 131st Amendment Bill is a genuine women's empowerment measure or a vehicle for delimitation — remains unresolved and is likely to define the Monsoon session's most contentious moments.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill?
The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill proposes reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. It was defeated in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament in April 2026 and is reportedly set to be reintroduced in the Monsoon session.
Why does Chidambaram oppose the bill?
Chidambaram argues the bill's stated purpose — women's reservation — is already achieved by the Constitution 106th Amendment Act. He alleges the real intent of the new bill is to trigger delimitation and potential gerrymandering of constituencies, making it politically motivated rather than a genuine empowerment measure.
Has the DMK agreed to support the BJP on this bill?
No. DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan stated clearly that the party will not support the BJP on the bill, saying: 'They may seek our support, but we will not extend it.'
What is the BJP's response to Chidambaram's allegations?
BJP leaders Rohan Gupta and Gourav Vallabh dismissed the allegations, questioning Chidambaram's standing to advise other opposition parties and accusing the Congress of abandoning its own allies in the past. They also argued Chidambaram was effectively opposing women getting their 'rightful due.'
What is the significance of the Monsoon session for this bill?
The Monsoon session of Parliament is the next legislative window in which the BJP could attempt to reintroduce the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill. With the bill having failed in April 2026, the government would need to build a broader coalition of support — making the positions of parties like the DMK and NCP-SP pivotal.
